The Brig End tearoom tops for tasty home baked cakes

As part of The Galloway Gazette’s search for the Tearoom of the Year for 2015, reporter Louise Kerr visited The Brig End in Newton Stewart.

The cosy, pleasant atmosphere in the Brig End is all down to the friendly and attentive service you receive from the staff. On the day I called manager Alison Gibbon was more than happy to answer all my questions about the tearoom and I got great service form Neicy, who could not have been more helpful, serving me with a delicious slice of freshly baked Victoria sponge and cream and a steaming hot cup of tea.

The Brig End are just about to extent their opening hours for the summer season and after Easter they will be introducing a traditional afternoon tea to the menu.

Just now the Brig End is open from 10am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm Friday, 10am to 7.30pm Saturday and 11am to 7pm Sunday. They serve popular High Teas from 3.30pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

There is a wide ranging menu available both for sit-in or take-away. The specials’ board is changed daily and on Wednesday, the day I called in, there was a mouth watering choice of homemade soup or vegetable spring rolls for starters; followed by grilled gammon steak with smoked cheese and tomato, battered chicken breast with garlic and chilli sauce and saffron rice; homemade steak pie or a ‘fish tea’ of haddock and chips, peas, bread and butter and tea of coffee. The Brig End always have a wonderful choice of sweets on display and many are gluten free including their coffee and walnut slice and shortbread. And who could resist the allure of cherry and orange scones!

The cheery girls are able to cater for all your dietary requirements and can provide outside catering too.

Next door to the restaurant is the ice-cream shop which, (three cheers!) reopened this week. Most locals don’t need to be told this, but this homemade ice-cream is, in my opinion, the best in the world!